CIVILIAN PORTERS USED AS MINE DETECTORS in Ta-Khi-Laek (Tachilek)
On 19.12.99, SPDC troops from Ta Lur-based LIB316 led by Maj. Tin Hlaing forced civilians who they were using as porters to lead and clear the way to a rebel stronghold in Ta-Khi-Laek township, causing some to step on land-mines which killed 2 and wounded many.

On 17.12.99, the said troops, numbering about 60, conscripted 4 porters from each of the following villages - San Kaang Nur, San Kaang Tai, San Kaang Mai, Huay Saa and Me On in Murng Hai tract, Ta-Khi-Laek township - and forced them to carry their things to Loi Lam Noi area where SPDC troops and SSA-E (Shan State Army - East) were engaging in a fierce battle.

When they got close to the battle, all the porters were tied up with ropes and guarded by some troops. When, on 19.12.99, the SSA-E troops abandoned their stronghold and moved away, the SPDC troops forced the civilian porters to clear the way and lead them into the stronghold.

While clearing the way, some of the porters stepped on land-mines. The explosions instantly killed 2 and wounded many, and severed one leg of 2 other porters.

Those who were killed and seriously wounded were:

1. Zaai Pan-Ya (m), aged 22, from San Kaang Nur village, instantly killed
2. Zaai Kam (m), aged 26, from San Kaang Mai village, instantly killed
3. Zaai Long (m), aged 35, from Huay Saa village, lost his right leg
4. Zaai La (m), aged 19, from Me On village, lost his right leg

KILLING OF RELOCATED FARMERS IN MURNG-PAN
On 2.12.99, a patrol of about 15 SPDC troops from LIB502 led by Lt. Hla Aung shot dead 2 onion farmers, a father and son, near their farm, 2-1/2 miles from Murng-Pan town, while they were transporting onions to be planted.

The victims, Loong Zoi, aged 51 and his son, Zaai Thun Nae, aged 29, were originally from Naa Wawn village, Naa Wawn tract, Murng-Pan township, that had been relocated to Murng-Pan town in October 1998. They lived together in an extended family of 6:--

1. Loong Zoi, aged 51, head of the family
2. Zaai Thun Nae, aged 29, son of Loong Zoi
3. Naang Non, aged 25, wife of Zaai Thun Nae
4. Zaai Kyaw La, aged 6, son of Zaai Thun Nae and Naang Non
5. Naang Lu, aged 4, daughter of Zaai Thun Nae and Naang Non
6. Zaai Mart, aged 2, son of Zaai Thaun Nae and Naang Non

There were only 2 male adults in the family and the death of both of them meant leaving Naang Non alone, a widow with 3 dependents, to care for the rest.

The family had been trying to eke out a living by planting rice and onion at a place about 2-1/2 miles from the town. They had just finished harvesting their rice crop and were about to plant onion when the misfortune befell them.

On the day of the incident, at about 6:30 in the morning, the 2 men were carrying onion seedlings to their farm to be planted. When they got to the edge of their farm, they ran into a patrol of SPDC troops who shot at them on sight.

At that moment, a group of about 20 villagers who were to help plant the onion were coming just 15 minutes behind them. When these people got near the farm, they saw the soldiers who were walking in a line towards the town. Although they saw the villagers, the soldiers did not say anything or talk to anyone, but went quietly back to their base.

When the villagers reached the farm, they saw the dead bodies of the 2 men lying at the edge of the farm, but they did not dare touch the bodies or do anything in fear of further angering the soldiers. They, however, returned immediately to the town and reported what they had seen to the village and community leaders.

The village and community leaders then complained about it to the military authorities. But the authorities did not take it seriously or take any action to investigate the case, but only said to the villagers, “If they were really innocent ordinary villagers, then go and bury them”.

KILLING AND ROBBING OF VILLAGERS IN MURNG-NAI
On 14.12.99, SPDC troops from Kun-Hing-based LIB524 led by Maj. Tin Hlaing, stationed in Kaeng Tawng area of Murng-Nai township, beat to death 2 villagers of Nam Tum Tai village, Nawng Hee tract, at their military camp in Murng-Nai township.

Early in the morning of that day, at about 4:00 hrs, about 30 SPDC troops came into Nam Tum Tai village, surrounded a house and arrested the owner, Zarae Saw Zing. They accused him of being a member of the Shan resistance force, bound him with a rope and searched his house, taking all the valuables they could find.

According to the local villagers, Zarae Saw Zing was a man who earned a living as a farmer as well as a ‘script reader’ who traditionally read Buddhist scripts on religious occasions and funerals. He had never been a member of any political groups or resistance forces.

After that, the troops went to the 2 neighbouring houses, accused the owners of being relatives of the Shan rebels and searched the houses, and took the valuables and money they found.

The troops then summoned the village headman and arrested him, accusing him of harbouring Shan rebels and bound him with a rope.

Finally, the soldiers forcibly took 4 ox-carts and 8 oxen from Zarae Saw Zing’s family and their neighbours, put their victims and their things on the carts and took them to their military camp.

At night, Zarae Saw Zing and the headman were taken to a place north of the military camp and beaten to death by the troops, and their bodies were dumped into an old unused well.

The 2 men killed were:

1. Zaai Ka Ling, aged 30, headman of Nam Tum Tai village
2. Zarae Saw Zing, aged 43, a villager of Nam Tum Tai

The following people also lost their property:

1. Zarae Saw Zing’ family and his wife, Naang Chung, aged 35, lost 1 ox-cart, 2 oxen, 2 baht-weight of gold ornaments and 40,000 kyat of money.
2. Pu Laek, aged 52, one of the neighbours who were accused of being relatives of Shan rebels, lost 1 ox-cart, 2 oxen, 4 baht-weight of gold ornaments and 60,875 kyat of money.
3. Pa Wai (f), one of the neighbours who were accused of being relatives of Shan rebels, lost 2 ox-carts, 4 oxen, 6 baht-weight of gold ornaments and 109,000 kyat of money.

A MINOR RAPED, HER FATHER SEVERELY BEATEN, IN MURNG-TON
On 7.12.99, a 16-year-old Shan girl was raped by Capt. Kyaw Aye, commander of Company No.5 of Murng-Ton-based IB225 of the SPDC, in Naa Pa Kaao village, Me Ken tract, Murng-Ton township, and the girl’s father was severely beaten until his face was swollen all over and he lost consciousness several times.

A dispatch of 50-60 SPDC troops from IB225 led by Capt. Kyaw Aye were being stationed at Naa Pa Kaao village for almost 3 months and were about to be transferred to Murng Kyawt area in a few days’ time when the event took place.

On the day of the incident, Naang Nguay, aged 16, from Pa Sak quarter of Naa Pa Kaao village, was returning from offering alms to the Buddhist monks at the village monastery and was passing one of the houses in which the SPDC soldiers were staying when she was stopped by Capt. Kyaw Aye.

Capt. Kyaw Aye said he had a letter for the village headman and he wanted Naang Nguay to take it to him and called her to come up into the house to get it. Naang Nguay thought it was true and went up the house only to find herself alone with the Captain with no one else around, and there was no letter for the headman.

Before Naang Nguay could do anything, Kyaw Aye pulled her by the hand into the house. When she protested and started to scream, he covered her mouth with one hand and with the other pressed his pistol to her neck and threatened to shoot her. “Shout, if you want to die!”, he said, and raped her to his satisfaction before he let her go.

As soon as she got home, Naang Nguay cried and related her plight to her parents. Her father, Loong Saw, was so frustrated and angry that he could not wait to consult any of the village leaders and ran alone to the house where Capt. Kyaw Aye was camping. He asked the captain why an army officer who was in charge of 100-150 soldiers and claimed to be protecting the people could be so devious as to rape his daughter who was only 16 years old, and said that such a person did not deserve to be an army captain. Kyaw Aye did not say anything to Loong Saw but ordered his troops to arrest him.

Capt. Kyaw Aye then summoned the village headman and his deputy and told them that a villager had dishonoured him by unjustly accusing him of raping his daughter. He said that the man might have taken amphetamines and was high on it, and that he would let the man go if he would compensate for his loss of honour.

When the village leaders asked to see Loong Saw, it took them about 1 hour to get permission and finally when they were allowed to see him, he was so beaten up his face was swollen and was only half-conscious, and could not answer their questions properly.

When they asked to see Naang Nguay, the soldiers did not allow them to go anywhere until they agreed to give 1 cow and 1 pig as compensation. The cow cost 4,250 kyat and the pig cost 1,800 kyat.

Early the next morning, on 8.12.99, before there was light enough to see each other, the troops left the village.

Even after his release, Loong Saw suffered from the sequel of the beating and could not eat properly for 5-6 days.

BEATING OF FORCED LABOURERS IN SI-PAW
On 16.1.00, an SPDC Sergeant from LIB243 severely beat up 2 villagers who were doing forced labour at a road construction site in Si-Paw township.

Villagers of Paang Zong and Paang Khu villages in Si Tawk tract, Si-Paw township have been forced to dig sand and rocks to pave the road to Murng Khur by SPDC troops of IB243. They have to work in shifts of 20-30 people for 4-5 days at a time.

On that day, a Corporal overseeing the work ordered the villagers to dig sand and put it into

pails and scoops before taking it to pour down on the road. When one Sergeant came that way and saw the sand in the pails and scoops, he scolded the villagers for not taking them to the road immediately..

When the villagers explained that the Corporal had ordered them to do it that way, the Sergeant became very angry and beat and kicked the villagers who happened to be near him, wounding some of them.

One villager, Ai Zaai (m), from Paang Khu village was swollen all over the face, and Ai Pa (m), from Paang Zong village was struck on the head with a stone and suffered from bruises and swelling.

FORCED RELOCATION OF LAHU VILLAGE IN TA-KHI-LAEK (TACHILEK)
On 22.1.2000, at 11:30 hrs, about 60 SPDC troops from LIB331 surrounded a Lahu village of Naa Ke in Loi Taw Kham tract, Ta-Khi-Laek township, and forced the villagers out of the village in droves.

This Naa Ke village of Lahu people consists of more than 20 households, and has been there for more than 20 years. The villagers earn their living by cultivating ginger and cabbages.

The SPDC troops had ordered them to move on 20.1.00 and had fixed a deadline for the completion of the movement on 22.1.00. The villagers, however, were so attached to their ginger and cabbage farms they were reluctant to abandon them, so the troops came in force and drove them out.

The Lahu villagers were told to go and stay with Akha people at Pa Laang Long village. Since the 2 different peoples have different traditions and cultures, many Lahu villagers did not go to the Akha village but were camping on the border and trying to get help from the Thais near Pha Hi village in Loi Tung area of Thailand, at the time of this report.

FORCED PORTERING OF LAHU VILLAGERS IN TA-KHI-LAEK
On 15.12.99, about 30 SPDC troops from LIB331 led by Capt. Hla Htwe came to Huay Kat village in Loi Taw Kham tract, Ta-Khi-Laek township, and seized 6 Lahu villagers to use as porters.

The villagers were forced to carry food and ammunition until they reached Pa Zaang village, where they were supposed to be released, and were tied up together with ropes and warned that whoever tried to run away would be shot dead.

One of the 6 Lahu villagers, Kya Pae (m), aged 23, could not tolerate it and asked the captain, “Captain, when you conscripted us you said you would release us when we got to this village. But now you have tied us up together and you haven’t given us anything to eat”.

On hearing that, Capt. Hla Htwe became very angry and ordered one of his troops to bring cow dung and shove it into Kya Pae’s mouth and he himself kicked Kya Pae’s jaw, causing bruises and swelling.

On the next day, while they were being forced to advance towards a former MTA (Mong Tai Army) stronghold, where troops of SPDC and SSA-E were fighting, one of the Lahu villagers, Kya Hi (m), aged 26, trod on a land-mine and lost his life.

BULLYING OF CHRISTIAN LAHU VILLAGERS IN TA-KHI-LAEK
On 25.12.99, 2 Lahu villagers were beaten up by 5 drunken SPDC soldiers from Ta Lur-based LIB316 at Naa Hai Long village in Ta-Khi-Laek township, without any questions or reasons.

On the day of the event, 2 Lahu villagers, Kya Yurng (m), aged 20 and Kya Aao (m), aged 25, from Waeng Manaw village in Murng Laen tract, were returning from a Christmas celebration at Naa Yaao village in Ta Lur tract.

When they got to Naa Hai Long village, 5 SPDC troops who appeared to be drunk seized them, bound them with ropes and beat them up, without asking any questions or accusing them of anything.

When they got back to their village, the 2 villagers complained about it to their village headman and together they went to the LIB316 base at Ta Lur and staged a complaint with the officer in charge there.

But the officer did not do anything for them and even said, “They were drunk and you know that. Next time when you see them, you should run away and hide from them”.

EXTORTION IN MURNG-SART
On 20.12.99, SPDC military authorities in Murng-Sart issued an order requiring people who did not grow rice and those who grew rice but failed to provide their rice quotas to the military to pay special taxes to them.

According to a reliable source from Murng-Sart, on 14.12.99, the Tactical Command Commander in Murng-Sart had instructed the commanders of IB65 and IB49 to plan so that they could collect taxes from the people who did not provide the military with rice quotas, at the following rates:

1. 1,000 kyat from those who did not grow rice
2. 1,500 kyat from those who did grow rice but failed to provide their rice quotas

On 16.12.99, the commanders of the 2 battalions then sent orders to the village and tract headmen in the area to make lists of the names of the people in accordance with the said categories in their respective areas.

On 20.12. 99, the 2 commanders then called all the headmen to bring all the lists to the military base and, after looking at all the lists, told them that in 1999 people who did not grow rice must also provide the military with financial assistance, and fixed the rates as follows:

1. 2,000 kyat for those who did not grow rice
2. 2,500 kyat for those who grew rice but failed to provide their rice quotas

The money must be collected by the headmen in their respective areas and by 28-29.12.99 the village tract headman must hand it over to the battalion commanders.

PEOPLE FORCED TO FIGHT REBELS IN MURNG-TON
Since November 1999, people in Murng-Ton township are being forced to stand guard along the roads between villages to fight Shan rebels if and when they come, by a combined force of SPDC troops from Kaeng-Tung-based IB226 and Murng-Ton-based IB65.

On 1.11.99, SPDC troops from IB226 and IB65 issued orders forcing the people in Murng-Ton to dig trenches with sentry-huts along the roads between several villages and, starting from 10.11.99, forced people to stand guard, 2 persons at each sentry-hut.

The people were instructed to arm themselves with muskets and to shoot at the Shan soldiers when they saw them coming. Anyone who failed to shoot and ran away from the rebels would have to see his village deserted.

The SPDC troops would make inspection rounds every now and then and if any hut was found empty, those who failed to take up the guard duty on their turns would have to provide 5 viss of chicken and do forced labour for 7 days in the military camps.

The numbers of sentry-huts between their respective villages are as follows:

1. 12 huts between Pung Pa Khem and Huay Aw
2. 6 huts between Huay Aw and Naa Kawng Mu
3. 2 huts between Naa Kawng Mu and Murng Harng
4. 10 huts between Murng Harng and Mae Ken
5. 10 huts between Mae Ken and Murng-Ton

EXTORTION IN MURNG-TON
Since SPDC troops from IB226 joined the Murng-Ton IB65 in late 1999, they have jointly imposed on the people more forced labour and money extortion in Murng-Ton township.

The people not only have to grow rice, sesame and corn etc. for the military, but also have had to provide 100,000 bricks for building and fixing houses and other buildings in the military compound.

Villagers who need to go to another village have to pay 200 kyat each to the military for a pass and those who need to go to their farms to work have to pay 100 kyat each for a similar pass.

Anyone found without a pass, whether on the roads or in the farms, would be shot dead without further questions, said the order.

FARMERS HARASSED AND ROBBED IN MURNG-PHYAK
On 27.12.99, 3 farmers who were returning from their farms were stopped, questioned for about 2 hours and robbed by SPDC troops from IB221 near Nam Lin Nur village in Wan Pung tract, Murng-Phyak township.

The 3 farmers, Zaai En (m), aged 24, Loong Ping (m), aged 55 and Pa Kham Pan (f), aged 48, were from Nam Lin Nur village and had farms some distance from their village. On their way back from their farms on the day of the incident, at about 18:30 hrs, they met 12 SPDC troops from IB221 led by Capt. Thein Win.

The troops stopped the 3 farmers and questioned them for about 2 hours. After that they searched them, took all the money and valuables they found on their bodies and let them go.

1. Zaai En lost 2,600 kyat of money
2. Loong Ping lost 330 kyat of money
3. Pa Kham Pan lost 1,500 kyat of money and a necklace weighing 1 baht

SHOOTING OF LIVESTOCK IN MURNG-YAWNG
On 30.12.99, 12 SPDC troops from LIB334 came into Naa Kham village in Wan Tap tract, Murng-Yawng township, and shot at chicken and pigs of the villagers.

After they had killed 17 chicken and 1 pig, the troops forced the villagers to carry them all the way to the military base.

The pig belonged to Pa Zum (f), aged 51, and was worth 18,600 kyat. The 17 chicken were worth no less than 3,600 kyat.

TOWN QUARTER HEADMEN FORCED TO EXTORT MONEY IN NAM-KHAM
On 16.1.2000, SPDC authorities in Nam Kham issued orders requiring all the town quarters headmen to help collect ‘funds’ in the town market place for the ‘Mobile Public Relations Company No.4’ that would stage a dramatic entertainment program in Nam Kham township on 22-23.1.2000.

Accordingly, all the quarter headmen were seen walking with members of the military in the market place on that day, persuading people to donate funds to the military entertainment troupe. No one dared to be absent due to the written orders sent to each of them on 14.1.2000.

All the orders contained the same message. The body of the message read:

“Concerning the dramatic entertainment due to be staged in Nam Kham township on 22-23.1.2000 by the ‘No.4 Mobile Public Relation Company’, donations for the funds of the ‘Company’ would be collected in the town market on 16.1.2000. Therefore, in order to help solicit donations, all the town quarter headmen are required to be present at the Township Peace and Development Council office at 9:00 a.m. (without fail), and a fine of (10,000/-) ten thousands kyat will be imposed on any absentee”.

The orders were signed by Secretary U Soe Thet Lwin, on behalf of the TPDC Chairman.

BULLYING, DETENTION AND EXTORTION IN KAENG-TUNG
On 2.1.00, 5 villagers of Wan Kaeng Laek village, Yaang La tract, Kaeng-Tung township, were arrested, locked up for several days and extorted of money by the SPDC troops of IB244.

The villagers of Wan Kaeng Laek village had been forcibly relocated to a place in the rice fields of Yaang Kung village by SPDC troops some time ago. Since the villagers had no proper place of worship in the new place, they organized a fair with programs for entertainment in order to raise funds to build a small Buddhist temple, on 1.1.00.

During the fair, 3 unarmed SPDC troops from IB244 came and bullied people and made a lot of trouble so that the villagers who were responsible for the security of the fair had to stop them and arrested them. But because they refused to be arrested and fought back, members of the security committee had to use force and drove them out of the place, hurting them some.

On 2.1.00, SPDC township and district authorities summoned those security members, 5 of them, to the township office and interrogated them. However, on learning that these villagers had not committed any grave offence, the authorities let them go after only some words of reprimand.

When IB244 learned about it they were discontent and went after the villagers, arrested and brought them to the military camp and locked them up until 7.1.00. The 5 villagers were released only after the village leaders apologized to the troops and paid 5,000 kyat for each of them.

VILLAGERS FORCED TO PROVIDE FISH FREE OF CHARGE IN KAENG-TUNG
On 3.1.00, 7 SPDC troops from IB245 came to Nawng Sent village, Paeng Tao tract, Kaeng-Tung township, and ordered the villagers to drain their fish ponds and give them 60 viss (1 viss = 1.6 kg) of fish.

The villagers not only had to give away their fish for free, but also had to transport all the fish all the way to the military base close to the town.

VILLAGERS FORCED TO CUT FIREWOOD FOR THE MILITARY IN KAENG-TUNG
On 6.1.00, SPDC military authorities of LIB314 issued an order requiring the following villages to cut firewood for them: Wan Sang village, Yaang Kwaai village, Wan Ten village and Wan Wo village in Murng Lang tract, Kaeng-Tung township.

Each village would have to provide 6 arm-span-piles ( 1 arm-span-pile = a stack of about 2-ft-long pieces, an arm span tall and equally wide) of firewood by 9.1.00 at the military base.

One of the villages, Wan Ten, had very few houses and was not able to gather enough firewood on the designated day, but was only able to provide the required amount one day later, on 10.1.00, and were ordered to provide 2 more arm-span-piles as a punishment.

SHOOTING OF LIVESTOCK IN MURNG-PHYAK
On 5.1.00, a patrol of 12 SPDC troops from IB221 shot and took away 1 pig belonging to Akha villagers of Nam Yawn village, Sa Lu tract, Murng-Phyak township.

On that day, the said troops came to the village and, without asking anyone, shot a pig and took it away without paying anything to the villagers.

The pig belonged to the villagers and was worth about 7,500 kyat.

AKHA MAN ROBBED IN TA-KHI-LAEK
On 8.1.00, an Akha villager of Saw Kong village, Murng Phong tract, Ta-Khi-Laek township, was beaten and robbed of his money by 3 SPDC troops near Pa Leng village, a place designated as a new area for agriculture.

The Akha man, Loong Aa Pur, aged 46, did not know the military unit and the names of his attackers, but he was sure that they were SPDC soldiers.

He lost 2,700 baht of Thai money.